Laundry machine



March 5, 1946. J. B. KIRBY Y I 5 LAUNDRY MACHINE I Filed April 7; 1941 4Sheets-Sheet v3 INVENTOR. flMEj 5. M55) 42;! ATTORNEY.

March 5, I I B LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed April 7, 1941 '4 SheetsSheet 4 vINVENTOR.

. 7 BY ,Z QMEZS 5. ZBY

I I 1 ATTORNEY.

Patented 4 UNITED "LAUNDRY MACHINE James 1;. Kirby, WestltichfieIGQOhio, assignor t6 The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company,

I Cleveland,

- trustee ApplicationApril -fl 19 Qhlo, a corporation. of Ohio, as

'5 east. (01. se -2's I This invention relates to clothes washingmachines and more particularly to a combinedwashing andcentrifugal'xtracting machine, wherein the extractor basket operation'isautomatically controlled so as to prevent the ,occurrence of excessivegyration of the extractor basket and the destructive effects resultingfrom such excessive v y a i n- 7 Numerous attempts have'been made'toprovide r a a centrifugal extractor suited for domestic laun dry usewhich would operate efficiently under that a basket rigidlysupportedfproduced high bearing-loads and that the required base andbearing structure resulted in a machine involving such weight andexpense that it would be unsuited for domestic use. To overcome in'partthe defects of arigidly supported extractor :as-'- sembly', it has beenproposed to flexibly mount the extractor unit so thatthe basket andshaft carried thereby may move within certain limits accommodate anddissipate the forces].-

so as" to developed by basket rotation, ,A-.familiar characteristic ofcentrifugalextractors is their comparative stabilityor dynamic balanceafter they'have passed through their advantage ofthis last-mentionedcharacteristic and provide a method and apparatus for accelerating thetravel of thebasket and its shaft'along its path of precession so thatthe rotating basket will acquire a'position of dynamic balance andstability without'the production of excessive de-" structive gyrationalmovements.

, Accordingly, -it is among the objects of my invention to provide awashing machine having a centrifugal extractor mounted to'precessinresponse to rotation thereof and in which the travel of the extractorthrough its precessional path is accelerated by a device whichprogressively decreases the magnitude of the precessional path.

It'i's a further object of my invention to provide a washing-"machineaccording to; the pre-vceding object in which the device forprogressively decreasing themagnitude of precession includes afriction-drive connection that automatically in response to themovementof the extractor basket away from its position of maximum stabilitymoves toward and away from a driving position of dynamic balance.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a'washing machinehaving an extractor arranged v according to thepreceding objects,wherein a" v horizontallyarranged rotating disc is frictionallyconnectedto one end of a link, which link is connected at itsother endto the shaft of the extractor basket so that the rotation of the disc'op'eratesto advance and accelerate theextractor' basket shaft throughitspath of precession.

critical speed of rotation'to tthefhigh speed'required for centrifugalextraction. It has beenobservedthat as the rotation of the basketincreased from zero to extractingspeed, there is afrnarked tendency forthe basket toprecess or' gyrate about a center. In a unit that ismounted for free movement about-its support, there is a tendencyfor thebasket to follow an increasingly larger path of precessionas therotational speedf' is increased toward extracting speed. This precessionor gy'rationmay be so excessive in the v I event of out-of-balanceloadsin thebasket, that the basket will strike the sides of the casingin which it is mounted and adversely afiect the bearings and mountingsof the'basket before it acquiresoextracting speed and dynamic stability."Another known characteristic of centrifugal extractors is that'where anexternally applied;

force acts to accelerate .the speed of precession as 'the rotation speedof the basket is increased, the basket will tendtof'quickly acquireit'sposition of greateststability or dynamic balance.

According to my'invention, I propose to take It is a further object ofmy'invention to provide a washing machine according to the precedingobjects in which the driving effect of the disc on the link variesinaccordance with the I position of the link with respect to the center Iof thedisc and this last-named position is inturn controlled by theposition of the extractor basket shaft with respect to its axis ofgyration.

It is'a further object 01 my invention to provide a washing machinehaving an extractor basket'mounted on a shaft to rotate about the axisof said shaft when dynamically balanced and to precess with respectto'its dynamically balanced position as the rotation of the shaft on itsaxis is increased from zero to extracting speed and wherein said shaftis journaled to one end of a link and the other end of the link. isfrictionally connected to a disc-whereby the shaft, is accelerated inits travel through its precessional path by the rotation of the disc ata speed exceeding the speed of precession resulting from the rotation ofthe shaft and'basket.

It is a further object of my invention to'proother? vide a washingmachine constructed according to the preceding objects in which meansare provided to rock the extractor basket about its mounting to effect awashing of the clothes and the means to wash the clothes are operativelyconnected to the means for advancing the shaft through its precessionalpath so that the washing means and the precessional advance meanssuccessively act on said basket and shaft, during the washing andextracting operations, respectively.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a combined washing andextracting machine in which an extractor basket is fixed to one end of asubstantially vertical shaft; and-flexibly mounted at the other end sothat the shaft and basket may move in response to means forrocking theshaft to effect washing and process in response to rotation of theextractor basket and wherein the precession of the shaft duringextraction is accelerated by a device operating in dependently of themeans to effect washing.

It is a further object of m invention to provide a combined washing andextracting machine having a basket mounted on a substantiallyverticalshaft, washing means to rock the shaft about its lowerend,precession accelerating means to advance the shaft through its path ofprecession and means connecting the washing means and the precessionaccelerating means, whereby the precession accelerating means isrendered operative upon rendering the washing means inoperative. I

It is a further object of my invention to provide an extractor mountedto .precess in response to rotation of the extractor basket and whereina link journaled atone end to the extractor is pivoted intermediate itsends sothat the other end of the link follows a path corresponding tothe precessional path of the extractor and advances through its path ina direction opposite to the direction of precession of the extractorbasket.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a device foraccelerating the precession of an extractor basket wherein a discsupplyingthe accelerating force rotates in a direction opposite to thedirection followed by the extractor basket through its path ofprecession.

Another object of this invention is to provide a laundry machine havinga container mounted; on a rotatable shaft wherein the various laundry.

derstood after consideration has been given to the following detaileddescription taken in con-- junction with the accompanying drawings,wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, andwherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through laundry apparatusconstructed according to my invention;

Figure 1 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line l* ---l ofFigure'l;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22-of Figure 1;

Fi ure 3 is a fra mentary sectional view t ken on the line 3-3 of Figure2;

Figure 4 is a. medial sectional elevational vview illustrating anextractor tub of a two tub laundry unit embodying my present invention;

Figure 5 is atop plan view with parts thereof broken away to illustratethe driving mechanism for the extractor container;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken on the line 8-6 ofFigure 7; V

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view with *parts broken away andtaken generally on the The plate l2 ma besupported in an 'suitablemanner, as for example, on resilient members l3, as illustrated inFigures 1 and 3. The casing 10 is provided with a top I I havingacentrally disposed flanged opening l5 therein, thereby affording accessto the laundry mechanism disposed within the casing l0.,, A suitablecover 16 hinged atone side of the opening it serves'as a closure for theopening, A conduit l1, leading from a valve l8 and terminating in adown-turned nozzle l9 projecting through the cover, I 6 serves to directaspray of water into a container'positioned within the casing l0. .7

Mounted within thecas'ing In on suitable angle members 20 secured tothe. inner side wall of the casingis a shell 2|, substantially oval incrosssection, and formed with an inwardly extending trough 22 about itslower edge. The bottom of the trough'22 is downwardly inclined andterminates at one sideof the casing in .anoutlet'23 which may-beconnected by means'of a conduit 24 to any suitable drain. Disposedwithin the shell is a combined washing, rinsing andextracting container28, which is generall spherical in contour, having afianged opening 29in the top thereof through which clothingand washing fluid are'adaptedto be introduced into the container. Secured on the lower innersurface of the container are suitable washingproiections 30 againstwhich the clothing isadapted toibe rubbed during the washing and rinsingcycles of operation of the laundry machine. Extending through the wallof the container at the lineof greatest diameter are a' plurality ofsmall apertures 3| disposed in a ring about the container and throughwhichfiuid within the container and the clothing therein disposedis'adapted to be expelled by centrifugal force upon rapid rotation ofthe container. The apertures 3| are normally maintained sealed by aresilient band 32' mounted on the exterior surface of the container andmaintained in position by spaced angular segments 33. Spaced springs 34maintain the band under tension to seal the openings until thecentrifugal force overcomes the spring tension and releases the fluidthrough the openings 3|. An inclined drip rim 35 secured to the lowerouter surface of the container below the apertures 3| serves, to directthe expelled water from the container into the trough22.

The container 28 is secured to the upper surface of a plate 33integrally formed on the upper end of avdrive shaft 31 whichisrotatablyjouro I v asoa os znale dzwithin a tubular housing. The lowerendof the housing is supported by a yoke 39, the

ends of which are pivotally supported'in trunnions formed on the end, of;a second yoke 40. The

yoke 40 extends substantially parallel with -the V base plate 12and-isformed' with atubular'shank 4| which is rotatably' mounted upon a,shaft 42 extending between spaced bracket members 43 casing 18,suitablysupported' irom the innerside wall of the casing I ll by meansoffa b'racketl I. :Rotatablymounted within-the casing 10 is a driveshaft 12 which extends downwardly through the lower wall of the casingand hasmounted thereon a pulley wheel 13. 'Ihe upDer end ofthe shaft i12 carries a pinion "which is adapted to mesh I 7 v with a gearwheel Ifreely rotatable on the lower secured on'the surface of thei baseiplate'l2;. It

' .willvbe seen thatlby the'foregoing structure 'a support is providedfor the shaft 31 so that the" 1 'shaft is capable ofjsubstantia'l'universalmove- "ment' about its supporting point andathereby is. mountedfor gyratorymovement, Between the iupper :end of the housing 38 andthe'lower surface'of theplate 36, thereis disposed a roller bearing ring44 and a coupling sleeve 45 formed of tworelatively movable intersectingmembers F45 and 45. 'For resiliently 'supporting'theiupper end of thehousing in a substantially vertical end of ashaft' 18. The uppersurfacof'th'egear whee1v'15 is provided with a diametrically extending slotillwhichisadapted to receive a pin 18 1 extending through thelower endofthe shaft 13. Thegear wheel 151s slidablyin mesh: with the pinion 14and rotates continuouslyduring the operation of the machine; andtheshaft 18 is -operatively*connected to th gear wheel 15' by bringingthe slot '11 of the gear wheel into engag'ement with'the pin 18. Forshifting the gear wheel 'l5flongitudinally' of the shaft 16, there isposition and for urging the return of'the housing to such position whenforces have caused it to assume an angulated positionwithrespect to. thevertical, there is provided a plurality of elongated coil springs 46extending radially from a ring 41] I encircling the upper end of thehousingto bracket members 48 Imountedinithe cornersof the casing Thelower end below the housing 381 and h'asffreelylrotatable thereon apulley wheel 5i which" is maintained thereon by means of a thrustbearing 52 and a nut 53. Slidably splined to the shaft 3'! between thepulley 5i and the lower end of the housing 38 is o drum 54 having afriction shoe 55 secured to the lower surface thereof and engageablewith the upper face of the pulley 5|. The drum is normally urgeddownwardly andinto engagement with the pulley wheel 5| by means of acoil spring 56 encircling the shaft 31 between" the hub of the drum 58and the lower end of the shaft housing 38; to effect a drivingconnection between the pulley 5i and the "shaft 31 forrotatingthe'latter. The drum 54 is provided with e an outwardlyextending flange 51 having a-friction shoe 58 secured to the lowersurfacethereof. 'A second drum 59, encircling thedrum' 54 is formed withan inturned flange 80' against which 7 the friction shoe 58 bears whendeceleration of the shaft 31 is to be effected and to disengage vtheshaft from the pulley 5|. The drum 59 which serves to move the drum54 along the shaft .31

of the drive shaft 3l extends provided ayoke 19' 'engageable betweenspaced collars keyed to an extension shaft 8| formed on a cap 82threaded on the hub of the gear wheel 15.

The 'yoke'19 is actuated by means of a rod-83 having'a lever arm 84whichis actuated by means of? wire-85 operativelyconnected to the timingmechanism A.* The extension shaft 8| has secured-to its-lowerend'aipulley wheel 88. The drive shaft .12 iszprovided with a worm 81which meshes with a wormwh'eel 88 mountedn the 7 end of a shaft 89 andserves to drive the operating mechanism of thetiming and control'device' gA, as described in my aforesaid patent.

The shaft ,18 is journaled in an upwardly extending housing 90 formedintegrally with the 1 gear case 18. A bracke-t9l' extending from the Vhousing 98 to the wall of the casing l8 serves to supportthe upper endof the housing in a sub- 93. 7 coupling member 93, on the crank arm 92and a r 'slmilar'couplingmember 95 formed on the sleeve stantially'rigidposition. Formed onthe upper end of the'shaft 76 is a crank arm 92 whichhas associated therewith a universal'coupling member A connecting rod 94extends between-the encircling the shaft-31. A spring 98 extendingtransversely from the crank end'ofthe rod' 94 to o the Wallof'the casingl0 serves to urge the crank armout of alignment'with the shafts 31 andI8 7 to insure longitudinal 'free-movem'jentof the connecting rod 94when the shaft 18 is disconnected from" the driving-gear 15. A springpressed pawl 91 mounted on the connecting rod 94and engageable with'arack 9'! formed'on the lower surface I against'the force of the "coilspring "55, is; ac

tuatedby a disc 6! formed'with a central sleeve 62 which encircles thelower end-ofthe jhousi'ng'i 38." The disc'li! is supported onthelowerends f of links 83 wh ch are pivoted to the ends ofcr'ank' arms 64mounted on the rod 65 which is journaled of the plate 36 effects astep-by-step rotation of niecontainer. 28- during the linear oscillationthereof. @Thisrotatlve movement is effective'to change, the position ofthe clothing 'within the in a suitable bearing formed on theyoke 39.,Ro-

tative movement is imparted tothe rod'85 by -means of ailever 66 adaptedto be actuated by a wire 61 leading from the'ti'mingandcontrol mechanismdiagrammatically indicated in" Figure2 and des gnated with the referencecharacter A/ The timing and control mechanism which may be employed intheoperation of-the subject machine LettersPaten't 2,344,253 whichissued to me March 14, 1944.

is disclosed'in detail and claimed in United States container withrespect to the path of oscillation to effect a uniform washingand/or'rinsing of'the "clothing. I Y p The pulley wheel 5! on the'shaft31 and the' pulley wheel 13 on thewlower end of the 'shaft' 12V-areoperatively connected by means of a belt 98 to a'driving pulley 99mounted onthe lower s end of th armature shaft of a'mot r. I00; MotorI00 is pivotally mounted in a bracket 'Hll secured to the wall of thecasing l0, and the belt 98 is tensioned. by-a spring I02 extendingbetween the motor I00 and a bracket secured to 'the'casing wall.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, there is illustrated mechanism foraccelerating preces sional movement of the shaft 31 tothereby effect acentering or balancing ofv the container supported upon the upper end oftheshaft; This mechanism comprises a shaft 103 journaled ina housing I04supported in a bracket I05 secured to a side wall of the casing Iadjacent that to which the oscillating mechanism is secured. The shaftI03. is rotated by means of a belt I06 extending between a pulley wheelI01 secured to the lower end of the shaft I03 and the pulley wheel 86associated with the oscillating mechanism. On the upper end of the shaftI03 there is formed a disc I 08 adapted to bear upon a hearing ring I09positioned. between the disc and the upper end of the housing I04.Bearing on the upper surface of the rotating disc I08 isv a frictionshoe IIO which is supported and guided to its position on the disc I08by the connecting arm II 2. Swivelly connected on'one end of the arm II2 is a bearing member I I I in which rotates the post I10 upstanding'from the friction shoe H0. The other end of the arm H2 is attached tothe shaft 45 by means of the member 45 of the connecting sleeve. Theconnecting arm II2 extends substantially at an angle of ninety degreesto the arm 94 and comprises spacedtubular members H4 and H and anintermediate sleeve IIG which are maintained in assembled relation by aconcentric tubular member II1.

. The opposite ends of the connecting rod II2 are bracket I2I which ispivoted to the outer end of a bracket I22 secured to the housing I04. A

spring I23 extending between the arm H2 and the bracket I22 serves tocontrol the amount of friction between shoe H0 and the surface of. the

disc I08. The outer end of the arm 83 is adapted to be journaled in abearing I24 mounted on the surface of bracket I22. An arm I25 is keyedto the rod 83 and has formed on the outer end thereof a ball socket I26.Socket I26 receives the lower end of a rod I21 which is slidablyreceived within a sleeve I28 depending .from the arm I I2. By thisconstruction, the clutch mechanism for operatively connecting the shaft15 with gear wheel 15 is interconnected with the mechanism foraccelerating precessional movement, so that when the oscillatingmechanism operates to effect washing of the clothes within the tub, thearm II 2 is raised through the rod I21 to break the contact between thefriction shoe H0 and the surface of. the disc I08.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, there is illustratedthe extracting unit of a two tub laundry machine having applied theretomy invention for accelerating precessional 'movement and therebycentering the extractor container during the extracting operation. Theap paratus' illustrated in these figures includes a casing I28 havingmounted therein a cylindrical shell I29, the lower wall of which isinwardly flanged to define a trough I30. The bottom of the trough I30 isdownwardly inclined and terminates in an outlet I3I which may besuitably connected to a drain b means of conduit I32. Mounted within theshell I29 is an open topped extractor container I33 having a pluralityof openings I34 in the wall portion thereof through which water may beexpelled from the clothing disposed therein. A drip rim I35 is securedto the lower portion of the exterior wall of the extractor container andserves to direct fluid flowing from the container into the trough I30.The bottom of the container is secured to a plate zontall disposed yokeI40, the shank I of which is rotatably mounted on ashaft I42 supportedin spaced bracket members I43. The shaft I31 is provided with arotatably mounted pulley wheel I44 on the lower end thereof and which isadapted to beoperatively connected to the shaft I31 by means of. aclutch mechanism broadly indicated by the numeral I45, and which issimilar to that hereinbefore disclosed with reference to Figures 1 and 1The apparatus for accelerating precessional movement and thus centeringthe container I 33 includes a casing having a vertical shaft I45 uponwhich is mounted a pinion I41. The shaft extends downwardly through thecasing wall and has secured thereto a pulley wheel I48. Meshing with thepinion I41 is a gear. wheel I49 secured to the lower end of a shaft I50journaled in, the vertically extending housing I5I. The housing I5I issecured to the side wall of the casing I28 by means of a bracket, memberI52 The upper end of the shaft I50 is provided with a disc I53, thesurface of which is substantially polished to receive a friction shoeI54. Intermediate the lower surface of the disc I53 and the housing I5Iis a bearing ring I55. The friction shoe. I54 is operatively connectedto the shaft I31 by means of a connecting arm I55 which is ofconstruction similar to that hereinabove described and'disclosed inFigures 6 and '1. This arm is pivotally supported 85 by means of. aguide arm" I51 extending from the midpoint of the connecting arm I56 tothe outer extremity of the bracket I58 formed on the housing I5I Theguide arm I51 is hinged both to the bracket I58 and the arm I56. AOspring I59 extending between the arm I56 and the bracket I58 serves tomaintain the friction shoe I54 in contact with the upper surface of thedisc I53. ing from the upper end of the housing I38 to spaced pointsabout thetub serve to resiliently center the shaft. A ring-like weightI6I is secured to the bottom of the tub for aiding in balancingthecontainer I33 when it is rapidly rotated for extracting purposes.

The pulley wheel I44 on the rotating shaft I 31 and the pulleywheel I48of the centering mechanism are driven by means of a belt IBI connectedto the driving pulley I82 mounted on the lower end of the armature shaftof a motor I83.' The motor is'pivotallysupported in a bracket I85secured to the side wall of the casing I28 andthe belt I8I is tensionedby means of the coil spring I84 extending from the motor to the casingwall.

60 The operation of the laundry machine illustrated inFigures 1 to 3 maybe manually controlled or may be controlled by suitable timing mechanismsuch as is describedin my aforesaid patent. In the. former caseQeaehoperation of the machine must be separably instituted and terminated bymeans of a suitable control. In the latter case, the entire cycle ofoperations performed by the machine is automatically controlled, but asthe operations performed by the machine are the same in either case, forsimplification only the operation of the machine as controlled by theautomatic timer, generally referred to by the character .A, will bedescribed herein.

In such operation of the machine, a water supply conduit, not shown,through which fluid A plurality of springs I extendte m is supplied tothe nozzle I8 is connected to any suitable water supply under pressurand at thev desired temperature. and the outlet23 of the shell -2I isconnected to a suitable drain by, means of the conduit 24. The electricconduit for conveying current to the'motor I 18 connected to a source ofcurrent supply. 1

Clothing and soapare placed'in the container 28 and. cover I6 is closed,and then the switch is actuated toclose the circuit to' the motor I00.

. Simultaneously the timing and control mecha- I nism is initiated. Thewater supplycontrol of the timing mechanism a allows apredeterminedamount of water to flow into'the container 28. While the water isflowing into the container, the time control mechanism pulls the wire 85rotating the arm 84 .which actuates the yoke I8 to move the gear wheel Ialong .the shaft I8 into en-' lI, the band 82 unseaiing the openingsunder the centrifugal force" of the fluid in the spinning container.When the. extracting periodis terminated and as'the containerispermitted to .decelerate to a state of. rest, any precessional Imovement that again develops in the container and shaft causesthefriction disc I I0 to again assumeaan eccentric position with respectto the driving disc'I08, so that it transmitsjah accelerating forcebymeans of the connecting rod II2 back to the shaft 31, -,.thereby;lgoverning and overcoming its precessional movement'before the movementbecomes severe., It is' 'intended in'this gagement with the pin. I8,thereby connecting the shaft "I6 to the drive shaft I2 for rotation in aThe shaft 18 through .its associated I :0, "direction opposite to therotation of the container shaft '31.

crank arm 02 and connecting rod floscillates I the container 28 for theduration of the washing period'provided by the setting of thetiminginech- I anism. Upon each reciprocation of the container 28, thepawl 01 on the connecting rod 84 is effective to rotate the containerone notch on the rack formed on the lower surface of the plate 88,thereby continually shifting the clothes within the container withrespect to the direction of reciprocation. At the expiration of thewashing period, the timing mechanism releases the wire: 85, and the gearwheel 15 drops out of engagement with the pin I8, thereby disengagingthe shaft I6. Simultaneously the frictional contact between the disc l08and friction shoe H0 is established. At the same time or immediatelythereafter, a force is applied to wire 81 by the timing mechanism,causing the pulley wheel 5| to be operatively connected to shaft 3I'forrotating the container. Simultaneously with the release of wire 85, therod 83 connected to the arm 84 is rotated to cause therod I21 to dropdown .and permit the spring I23 to draw arm II2 down so as to establishcontact between the friction shoe IIO on the end thereof and the surfaceof the disc I08. When the container 28 and the shaft 81 upon which thecontainer is mounted are intheir normal vertical position, the disc H0is substantially concentric. with the disc I08, and as the axis of thefriction shoe 0 and the post H0 attached thereto are the same, no

movement is transmitted'from the accelerating mechanism to the'shaft ofthe'con'tainer. As

end thereof, the lower end of the shaft bein 1 lathe case inventiontouse an accelerating' force tofovercome precessional tendency of theshaft and container;

device for the shaft I31 .upon whichfthe' extractor container is mountedis operablyfconnectedto (the .pulley wheel I by the belt I8I,',and:iscon! tinuously driven. The'shaft-I50 is back geared I to reverserotation and give. slow speed'sli htlyf in excess of the speed ofprecession. When the shaft I3! is operably connected to the continu- 1,An extractor comprising a container, a rotate I able shaft supportingthe container on the upper flexibly mounted to permit the shaftandcontainer to precess in response to rotation of the shaftand containerabout the shaft axis, a power driven disc rotating on a fixed axis, arodmounted forreciprocation and operably connected at oneend to theextractor shaft to be actuated by precessional movement only of theshaft, a mem- I vber carried by the rod and engaging said disc,

said member being movable acros's the axis of t said disc and beingcoaxial with said shaftwhen the extractor shaft is centered,'*therotation of said disc being at a speed higher than the pre- I sessionspeed ,of the extractor shaft and in a direction effective to accelerateprecession and I thereby center the xtractor shaft.

precession develops upon the rotation of the container, the frictionshoe H0 is guided to a position with respect to the disc I08, so that aforce is applied through the frictional engagement of the shoe and discto correct the precessional movement and balancethe containen Inasmuchas the departure of the shaft 81 of the extractor container from itsnormal vertical position controls the position of the friction "shoe II0 with .respect to disc I08, when the container reaches a rotatingspeed at which it is in equilibrium and not subject to any tendency toprecess, the friction shoe H0 is. brought into a position concentricwith the disc I08 and no longer operates to transmit any force back tothe shaft 31 by means of the. connecting rod. The timing mach- 2. In acombined washing and extracting ma- I I chine, a container adapted tohold clothes and washing fluid, a supporting shaft for the'container,means for oscillating the container about a generally horizontal axis toeffect washing, vmeans to rotate the container and shaft at high speedto effect extraction, mechanism to prevent excessive precessionalmovement'of' the shaft 1 while the container is being. acceleratedthrough a critical speed with an out-of-balance load com- I prisingfriction drive means for accelerating the precessional movementbyapplyinga force normal to the shaft adjacent to the container in thepath of the container and shaft precession.

3. A washing machine comprising a container,

. a rotatable shaft supporting said container on its I upper end, meansfor rotating said shaft at high speed for extracting, said shaftsupported for gyratorymovement adjacent its lower end, means anismoperates to keep the .container spinnin for a period of time sufficientto allow all washing fluid which can be extracted from the clothes todrain from the containerthroughthe apertures for oscillating said shaftabout-a horizontal axis to effect washing of the clothes and means toovercome excessive gyration of the shaft and container during that phaseof the extracting oper- I of the extracting illustrated in Figures 4 and5 of the drawings, the centering I ation'when the container is rotatingthrough a critical speed with an out-of-balance load, said meancomprising mechanism for applying a. force normal to the shaft in thedirection of its precessional path to accelerate precession and effecta, centering and balancing of the shaft and container. I

4; A washing machine comprising a container, a rotatable shaftsupporting said container on its upper end, said shaft being supportedfor gyratory movement adjacent its lower end, means for rotating saidshaft at high speed for extracting,

means for oscillating said shaft in a substantially vertical plane aboutits support for washsaid shafts which is responsive to the precession ofthe shaft of said container to transmit an accelerating force to saidcontainer shaft in the direction of precession.

5.- A combined washer'and extractor comprising a clothes container, anupright shaft supporting said container, means for supporting said shaftand container for .rotarymovement and precessional movements and rockingmovement about two horizontal axes, means for agitating material withinsaid container during the washfing operation by rocking said containerand shaft about one of said axes, power driven means for impartingreciprocating movements to said agitating means, driving means forrotating said shaft during the extracting operation, means forcontrolling the precessionrof said container and shaft during theextracting operation, means for disconnecting said agitating means fromsaid power driven means and connecting said drivin means to said shaft,and means for controlling the operation of said precession controllingmeans to render the same operative upon connection of said shaft to itsdriving means.

JAMES B. KIRBY.

